OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The Vet Resource Center (VRC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting veterans, has launched a campaign to offer free cancer screenings for Gulf War veterans.
The VRC says the initiative comes in response to the rise in cancer cases among veterans who served in the Gulf Wars from 1991 to 2022. According to the group, over 500,000 cancer cases have been diagnosed among these veterans, with more than 240,000 fatalities attributed to exposure to toxic substances during their service.
Gulf War veterans were exposed to hazardous conditions, including toxic burn pits used to dispose of garbage and waste products, burning oil wells ignited by Iraqi forces, and other airborne hazards prevalent in the region. These exposures have been linked to a variety of cancers, prompting VRC to take action in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and private healthcare providers.
The goal is to help veterans take advantage of an early warning screening called the Galleri® test, which screens for 50 different types of cancer. According to the Galleri website, the screening is a single blood test which “predicts the tissue type or organ associated with the cancer signal with 88% accuracy to help guide follow-up diagnostic testing which may include lab work or imaging to confirm cancer.”
VRC has partnered with the manufacturer to make the potentially life-saving screening available at no cost to Gulf War veterans.
There are currently eight VA “Reflection” study sites across the United States, including two in Florida, where you can get your screening.
Tampa – James A. Haley Veterans Hospital (VA Tampa), Contact: Adam Zoble, 813-972-2000, Ext 6939
Miami – VA Miami Health Care System, Contact: Lisa Hue, 305-575-7292
VRC is urging all veterans who served in the Gulf region to take advantage of this opportunity. The initiative aims to provide comprehensive screening services to detect cancer early, which can significantly improve treatment outcomes.
For more information on the cancer screenings, visit the Vet Resource Center’s website.